Spike.



WILLAIRD C. ROBERTS, 0F LINDENWOOD, ILLINOIS.

SPIKE.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 2Q, ligl.

Application filed December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,561.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VVILLARD C. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindenwood, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in spikes and more particularly to a railway spike.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a spike which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be easily driven into the desired object and held therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spike having locking elements extending therethrough whereby the spike is held against vertical movement after having been driven into the desired article.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a spike having a longitudinally extending shoulder to prevent lateral movement of the spike Vafter having been driven in position.

lith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more clearly understood from the following description and drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is 'a side view of the spike,

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the spike showing the locking element, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spike.

My spike'compriscs a body portion 1 having a head 2 formed on the top thereof, said head being provided with an extension in dicated at 3 which is adapted to engage on the article, such as a rail, which is to be fastened in position. It will be understood that the extensionl 3 will pass over the base of the rail or other article. A portion of the body l is beveled longitudinally, as indicated at 4, thereby forming a shoulder at 5. It will be understood that the beveled por-7 tion 4 is formed on each side of the body portion of the spike, whereby there will be a shoulder 5 formed on each side thereof. The lower end of the body l is beveled, as indicated at 6, thereby forming a sharpened edge whereby the spike may be easily driven into position. Longitudinal openings 7 are formed in the spike, said openings extend` ing from the head 2 to a point midway the body of the spike. rihese openings 7 extend at an angle and are laterally'spaced apart, one opening extending to the right side of the spike and the other opening extending to the left side thereof. These openings are preferably formed in that portion of the body extending parallel with the beveled portion 4.

It is to be noted that the spike is approximately twice as wide as it is thick. The shoulders 5 are extended longitudinally and serve to divide the body portion of the spike into approximately two distinct portions, one being similar to the conventional form of spike and the remaining portion be ing beveled or wedged shape.

Locking elements in the form of keys 8 are adapted to be passed through the openings and these keys have the heads 9 formed on the upper ends thereof. The upper ends of the openings 7 are preferably enlarged, as indicated at 10 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to receive the heads 9 of the locking keys 8. These locking keys are preferably formed of soft metal and are slightly curved outwardly, particularly the ends, whereby the ends will flare outwardly, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, when driven into position. rlChe keys will be forced outwardly from the beveled surface of the wedged shape portion and, therefore, will have more of a tendency to iiare outwardly than would be the case if the openings terminated in the straight portions of the spike.

Having fully described the details of con* struction it is thought that the advantages and inode of use will be clearly understood. lt is the object of my invention to provide a spike, particularly adapted for railways, which may be locked in position after having been driven. The sharpened edge 6 will allow the spike to be easily driven into the tie or other article whereby the projection 3 formed on the head will extend over the base of the rail or other article to be secured. rThe shoulders 5 formed on each side of the spike will prevent the lateral movement of the spike after having been driven in posi tion. After the spike has been driven and it is desired to lock the same, the locking keys 8 are driven through the openin gs 7 and when the ends of said keys engage the tie erV other article they will be `flared outwardly and upwardly as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. When such keys heads 9 of the keys. 1G'

have been driven' in position, it will be impossible for the spike to have any vertical movement upwardly and will therefore not be worked loose by any ar upon the article it is securing.` If it is desired to remove the spike it is only necessary to witlidrawihe locking keys 8 which can be done by engaging any suitable instrument beneath the After the keys have been withdrawn from the openings 'T the spike can then be withdrawn.

Having Vfully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersv Patent is:

l. yA Vspike comprising` a body portion, the width of the body portion being approximately twice the thickness of the body portion, shoulders extending longitudinally for a -portion of theilength of :the spike on each side thereof, the surface vlof-each side of the spike being' beveled atone side of each shoulder, the said spike being provided with diagonally extending'openings opening in the said beveled surfaces at Veach side of the spike, and a key adapted to be arranged in each-of the saiddiagonal openings.

'2. A spike comprising Aa bodyr portion having a pair of longitudinallyA extending shoulders formed thereon, each side surface ofthe spike being beveled whereby the bevveled .surface is flanked by thecorresponding slioiildei-,'tlie said body portion havingits lower end beveled to provide the sharpened endedge for the spike, the said beveled surfacemerging into the said beveled end, and keys carried by the said bodyrportioir and adapted to cooperate with the beveled sides of the spike for preventing upward movement thereof.

8. 'A spike comprising a body portionpf a width equal to approximately twice its thickness and having a portion of itsside surface beveled to provide oppositely disposed shoulders, the said shoulders dividing` the said body portion whereby one portion of the body simulates a conventional spike while the remaining portion is of tapered formation, diagonally extended keys, the said keys being extended through diagonally disposed openings formed in the said tapered portion, the said openings having their open ends in the head of the Said spike.

4t. A spike comprising a body portion of a width equal to approximately twice its thickness and having a portion of its side Vwalls tapered to provide a longitudinal shoulder at each side 0f the body, the portion ofthe body atene side of the shoulder simulating a conventional spike, the remaining portion of the body being of tapered formation, the said tapered portion being provided with diagonally extending openings, each opening having one terminal in one of theftapered sides of the said tapered portion and its opposite terminal iu the head of the spike, and a key mounted in each ofthe said openings.

A spike comprising a body portion of a width equal to approximately twice its Vthickness and having a portion of .its side walls tapered to provide a longitudinal shoulder at each side of the body, the portion of the body at one side of the shoulder simulating a conventional spike, the remaining portion of the body being of tapered formation, the said tapered portion being provided with diagonally extending openings, each opening having one terminal in one of the tapered sides of the said tapered portion and its oppositie terminal in the head of .the spike, the end of the body of the lspike being tapered to provide a sharpened end edge, the said tapered sides of the Ytapered portion merging into the said tapered end, keys arranged in the said diagonal openings, the said keys having their ends slightly curved outwardly for permitting them to curve when forced through the said diagonal openings.

6. A spike comprising a body portion, the said body portion having openings extending diagonally therethrough in opposite directions from the upper end of the spike, each openingterminating at one side of the spike and arranged in laterally spaced re- .lation, and keys adapted to be thrust through the said openings.

7. A spike having openings extending diagonally therethrough, shoulders formed on each side of the spike and extending longitudinally thereof and keys adapted to pass through the diagonal openings each of the said openings terminatingat opposite sides of the said spike and in a position whereby they will be flanked by the said shoulders.

`S. A spike comprising a body portion having thelower end thereof beveled, one portion of the body simulatinga conventional spike aiid the remaining portion being of wedged shape, shoulders formed on each side of the spike and extending longitudinally thereof, said spike having diagonal openings therethrough, the said openings terminating in the sides of the said I wedged shape portion, and keys adapted to pass through the diagonal openings.

9. A s )ike com arisinO' a bod oortion one a n bl u j longitudinal half of which simulates a conventional spike, the remaining half being of wedge formation, a head formed on the end of the spike and having'openings formed therein and extending diagonally through the wedge shaped portion in opposite directions.

l0. A spike comprising a body` portion. one half of which is vformed to simulate a conventional spike, the other half being wedge shaped, the proximate side of the conventional shaped portion 'forming longirelatively great Width, one half of the body 10 portion simulating a conventional spike and the other half being of Wedge shape.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLARD C. ROBERTS. Witnesses;

Mrs. F. C. ROBERTS,

NELLIE ROBERTS.

tudinal shoulders, and a head integrally formed, With the conventional and Wedge shaped portion, the Wedge shaped portion having diagonally extending openings laterally spaced apart and opening at opposite sides on the Wedge shaped portion of the spike, and fastening` keys extended through, the said openings.

l1. A spike comprising a body portion of Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1D. C. 

